Stop Here for Reality Check

Ah yes, Mother's Day. Ranks right up there with Christmas in the holiday stress level of family gatherings. With seven siblings and 23 grandchildren running throughout a few crowded rooms, someone's bound to snap right?

I enjoy Mother's Day. I do. There was a time right after Owen died, that Mother's Day was just another reminder of what I didn't have and I shot evil glances at the mom's in church that seemed less than enthusiastic about their day of honor.

This year, I look at mother's in a different light. A comical perspective. As I grew bored with the message, I let my eyes drift over each of the little families in church yesterday. Most of the moms looked tired and annoyed, having no doubt waken up early to retrieve their offspring from the warm confines of bed to fight about breakfast choices and appropriate church apparel. Some moms in the rush of getting the family ready to go, looked like they somehow forgot to comb their own hair. I reach up subconsciously to smooth my own tangled locks. Then there comes a loud bang from somewhere in the middle section of pews followed by a brief period of silence and then earth shattering wails. A mother stands up with a boy tossed across her hip and makes her way to the back of the sanctuary with a look of embarrassed apology on her tired face. Her other children whimpering in her wake.

I think of my grown children and of my little one and marvel at the amount of work and energy level that each age group takes. I sigh a contended little sigh knowing they are secure in my love for them.

To all the moms out there and to all the woman who desperately want to be mothers, hang in there.

© 2006 Michelle (nnm)